Patrick: Gas tax not answer to Mass. transit woes

BOSTON (AP) - Gov. Deval Patrick says he no longer sees the gasoline tax as a long-term solution to the state's transportation woes.

During his monthly "Ask the Governor" program on WTKK-FM Thursday, Patrick said the growing movement toward fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles and electric cars will make the gasoline tax a less viable revenue source in the future.

Proposed fare hikes of up to 43 percent on the MBTA have prompted some renewed calls to raise the state's current 21-cents-per-gallon gasoline tax as an alternative method of funding public transit and other transportation priorities.

Patrick sought a 19-cent increase in the gas tax during his first term as governor, but the Legislature said no.